Chapter 10

The next morning, almost afternoon, Sollux woke stifling a scream. His cheeks dry and stiff from the tears he shed before falling into his nightmare filled sleep. Prying his eyes open, rubbing them to help them adjust to the light, he quickly got up. Taking deep breaths as he left the room to eat his plate of breakfast. Covered gently by a towel to keep the flies out and whatever warmth still remained in. He eats quickly, barely registering the taste.

As soon as he is finished he washes the plate and sets it back in the cupboard. Quickly retreating back to his room. Leaving the door open to allow the still cool air to filter throughout the cottage he pulls out a bag and all the clothes that he owns. Quickly picking though his small pile to find the least worn clothing articles. The ones that would present him the best he put on, the others gently getting set into his bag along with some personal items he wished to bring with him.

He was scared. Scared that the plan wouldn't work. Scared that Eridan forgot all about him the moment he entered the palace grounds. He takes deep breaths, trying to scare the thoughts away. The loud scream in his mind sending a shiver down his spine. He grabs the clothes he wasn't taking with him, folding them to keep his hands busy,

"Can I talk to you?" The soft words from the entry to his room yank him out of this thoughts. Mismatched eyes meeting the soft bright green ones belonging to a certain cat lover. He places a fake smile on his lips, motioning for her to enter.

Pretending to not worry over the lack of hearing cat puns escape her lips and the missing smile she always wore on her face. He sets the shirt he was folding down, sitting on the edge of the bed. Watching her walk towards him and sit down close to him. Her nervous and worried glance at everything but him twisted his own gut with worry.

"I'm pregnant" her words are soft and blunt, rushed from her mouth. She stares at her hands. Sollux's mind reels, then suddenly stops with the realization of her words. Even the voices in his head stop while her words sink in. He grins, pulling her into a soft hug.
"Really? Thatths amathing newth! Doeth KK know?" She shakes her head, short black hair twisting along with her movements.

"I don't know if I should tell him. What if Karkitty gets mad? We haven't talked about it and I know he's not fond of children.." She trails off, looking up into Sollux's eye. Her own rimmed with unshed tears. Sollux keeps smiling at her, keeping his hand on her back. She was so rave, so strong it was possible to sometimes forget that just the same she was fragile.

"To tell you the honetht truth, I think ith wonderful newth. If you want thith child, you shouldn't give a thingie damn about what KK thinkth. He'th not the one who ith pregnant. You are. You are brave, throng, could proably kick my arthe even while pregnant. If KK doethn't agree with your choitheth it's no oneth fault but hith own." He watches his lips turn into a small smile. Hand quickly rising up to wipe her own tears.

"Thanks Sollux it's what I needed to hear" She lets out a purr, jumping into his lap. Whispering a soft "your welcome" he kisses her forehead. She pulls away from him, pouncing out the room. Likely headed towards wherever Karkat was located to break the news to him.

Smiling to himself, he shoulders his bag. Takin one quick glance around his room in a silent goodbye. Leaving though the front door, he slips away from the cottage and into the woods. Deciding that it was best not to seek Karkat out and wish him goodbye. He was busy with nepeta. Probably sputtering curses, hopefully from excitement.

He stares at the ground. Watching his feet crunch through the leaves that were beginning to fall from the trees. Quickly filling in the path, making it impossible to walk silently. He could fly, but what point would it give? It's not as if anyone could hear him this far from the village.
The snort of a horse and the soft thud of hooves hitting the ground, breaking though twigs force him to look up. His uncovered eye staring straight up into the eyes of a man he made himself forget existed. He lets out a gasp, stumbling slightly in his steps.

Uncovered blue eye taking over the other mans features to confirm his identity. Long black hair pulled up in a ponytail, a grunt expression on his grunt face. Thick muscles straining the metal armor on his body. A royal crest signifying him as part of the royal guard. With a hate filled glare the guard holds out his hand, clearing his throat before speaking.

"I have orders by his royal highness to bring you to the palace." Sollux nods his confirmation, unable to look the man in the face. Guilt twisting his gut he takes the others hand. Letting him pull him up on the tall horse. He opens his mouth, as the horse is spun around. Words trying to escape his lips with begging for forgiveness and an excuse for his actions. He shuts it with a violent clink. The man behind him not snapping his neck was all the forgiveness he would receive. How could he ask for more when he was the one who started the fate that burned the love of his life?

SO yeah, story is back on a roll. I will warn that I have some stuff going on next week so I will update then. I am sorry that this chapter is so short. I will eventually edit it to make it longer. Probably add some details in or something. Hope you are not mad that I took so long to update this. However, I promise that I will not abandon this fic this time :)

Angie